Audie Baylock and Redline provided bluegrass fans with one of their patented virtuoso performances last weekend at the Brooklyn Bluegrass Festival. SWBMAI member and bluegrass videographer Denny Egstad caught one of the band’s hot numbers on tape:
Shooting any video of your own this festival season? Don’t forget to let us know about it at swbmai@gmail.com!
Illinois resident and brand new SWBMAI member Pamela Love Martz took top honors and $150 in cash at last Saturday’s “SWBMAI’s Got Talent” competition, with a soulful and classic-sounding rendition of “Too Late” by Hugh X. Lewis. The competition took place at SWBMAI’s 2009 holiday party at the Goodman Center in Madison.
Eight acts competed for cash prizes before an enthusiastic crowd. Winners were decided by an Applause-O-Meter at the end of the competition. In addition, a “Crowd Favorite” award was selected by by direct ballot of the audience.
A jug band consisting of Beverly Hills, Scott Knickelbine, Arvid Berge, Dave Nance and Frank Parks won the Second Place prize as well as the Crowd Favorite award with a spirited performance of “Blues in the Bottle.” Sandy Nowak, Dan Hildebrand, Jim Carrier, John Jirak, Mitch Rosefelt, Dale Ward and Natalie Grady won Third Place with a winsome, multimedia rendition of the bluegrass classic “Roses in the Snow.” Catherine Ryner and Jim Hodges won Honorable Mention for their duet on “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.”
The 2009 SWBMAI holiday party was the best-attended in recent years. Kudos to board member Sharon Manion for organizing the event, and for shooting this video of the winning acts!
By Dave Nance
The 3rd Tuesday Beginner’s Bluegrass Jam, sponsored by SWBMAI (Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association), and hosted by yours truly, Dave Nance, will be held this Tuesday evening, November 17, 2009, at the Up North Bar at 514 E. Wilson St.
I’ll be there by 7:30 P.M.; we’ll start the jam by 8.
Anybody have any ideas for songs they’d like to try out, work on, and/or play for fun this week? Here are mine, w. some links to versions on youtube to remind you how they go:
Blue Ridge Mountain Blues 4/4 time, Key of G (G, C, D)
(here’s a nice rockin’ version by John Fogerty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHuBr8nGktk )
Cripple Creek 4/4 time, Key of A (A, D, E)
(here’s Flatt & Scrugg’s version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4sqishGuYw )
Green Pastures 3/4 time, Key of A (A, D, E) (we did it last month, but I like it a lot so I’m suggesting it again!)
(here’s a nice version by Allison Krauss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwQD-rCJMYw)
I’ll Fly Away 4/4 time, Key of G (G, C, D)
Late Last Night 4/4 time, Key of D (D, G, A)
Reuben’s Train 4/4 time, Key of D (D, A)
(here’s a nice version highlighting banjo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugbMWhU26I)
I hope you’ll each bring an idea for a song you’d like to try
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
A tip of the hat to Bobby Batyko, who sent along this YouTube clip of the late John Harford performing Gentle on My Mind on an old Nashville Network broadcast. But wait, who’s that in the audience nine seconds into the clip, the one with the big smile on her face? Why, it’s none other than SWBMAI’s own Carmen Burnett!
After you’ve enjoyed looking for Carmen in the crowd, don’t forget to watch the rest of the clip — it’s classic Hartford, including a bit of clogging-while-playing-banjo, something I thought went out with Uncle Dave Macon.
Last weekend’s SWBMAI-supported Sugar Maple festival was a big success. The highlight of the festival was an appearance by J.D. Crowe and the New South. Videographer Denny Egstad captured Crowe and company in the act:
Got your own festival video? Once you’ve put it up on YouTube, email us the link at swbmai@gmail.com and you could find it featured on our home page!
By Denny Egstad
Since I belong to that strange group that call themselves five string banjo players I wouldn’t have missed a chance to see Bill Evans for anything. The Saturday concert at the Willmar center was packed and I haven’t seen a more attentive crowd. You could have heard a pin drop during the performance which I can only describe as spellbinding.
I knew Bill was a hot banjo player but I had no idea how great Megan Lynch was. The two put on a tour de force of both instruments. Megan is also a wonderful vocalist and they did some nice harmony between the amazing instrumentals.
Thanks to SWBMAI and especially Julie Cherney for producing a top notch bluegrass event.
Editor’s Note: If you click on the You Tube above you can view this video in High Quality!
This hot new Public Service Announcement should help remind you to subscribe to SWBMAI, or renew your membership if you haven’t already done so!
Special thanks to Jim Robarts and the Spare Time Bluegrass Band for serving as SWBMAI poster boys (and girl)!
By Denny Egstad
This was a huge week for bluegrass in our area with James King in Madison on Wednesday and the Del McCoury band at the Stoughton opera house on Friday and Saturday. I was lucky to get a last minute ticket to the sold out Del McCoury Saturday show. A friend summed up the show in one sentence: “If there is a better bluegrass band I can’t think of who it is.”
Editor’s Note: If you’ve got a high-speed connection you can go to YouTube and watch this great clip in high-definition!
SWBMAI member band (This is the) Squirrel Hunters played their debut show this past Sunday at the Roxbury Tavern in Roxbury, WI and will play this weekend at the Brooklyn Bluegrass Festival. This self described “traditional Bluegrass co-op” is based around Madison and includes members from other area Bluegrass bands: Bob Batyko and Lorie Docken, from the Sparetime Bluegrass Band; brothers Brian and Sean Ray, from the Brothers Ray; and Mr. Paul Kienitz, from the Nob Hill Boys.
From the band’s bio: “We make regular musical forays outside the protective walls of Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs, but always with caution, and never without a long rifle.” The band’s debut was capped by Tom, owner and proprieter at the Roxbury Tavern, cooking up a delicious squirrel stew for the boys (and Lorie). There are some pictures from the show including stew shots! There is also video of the event available on the band’s website and on YouTube… case in point:
